American Hustle

There’s a lack of modulation here. This potboiler about small-time con-artists hits the ground running in the opening seconds and never lets up. The story becomes more and more ridiculous and confusing and after a while, all you can do is laugh at the clothes. You wonder if it can ever resolve itself in any kind of satisfying way. But then… IT DOES! And it all makes sense! And when it’s over, you can look back at the movie, at the slickly deceptive performances from Christian Bale and Amy Adams, with heaps of praise. So I liked this! It may have a retro style, but the bewildering and deceptive filmmaking is modern and whip-smart. I continue to be impressed by Christian Bale’s ability to gain and lose weight, and how well he disappears into this character of the middle-aged schlub. Amy Adams is great here, with her bad British accent and plunging necklines. As she misleads and distracts her “mark” in the “con”, she also convincingly fools the audience, and you never know whose side she’s on. It’s sublime. I also have to say that I loved Louis C.K. in this: it’s the best I’ve ever seen him. My advice is: see this and trust the filmmakers. When you find yourself distracted and staring at the hair, it’s all slight of hand, and you’ll soon be shown what they made you miss.